****************** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE **********************
**************** SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2007 ********************

Mayor Invites Public to Launch
Menlo Park Green Ribbon Citizens' Committee to Control Climate Crisis

For more information contact
Kelly Fergusson, Mayor, (650) 327-4533 kjfergusson@menlopark.org
Heyward Robinson, Councilmember, hgrobinson@menlopark.org

Menlo Park Mayor Kelly Fergusson is encouraging all people interested in
joining a citizens' climate crisis task force to attend the group's
kick-off meeting on Wednesday, March 14. The committee will be open to
all - both Menlo Park residents, businesses, and others from the greater
mid-Peninsula Region with expertise and interest in solving the climate
crisis. The kick-off meeting will be held in the Community Room in the
basement of the Menlo Park Library at 800 Alma Street, from 4 pm to 6
pm. The meeting will be professionally facilitated by Lisa Friedman of
Enterprise Development Group, who brings expertise in both
sustainability and change management.

Among the many areas this committee may consider are: 1) targeting cost
savings with efficiencies that reduce our greenhouse gas pollution, both
as a municipal organization and as a broader community; 2) further
positioning Menlo Park as a "clean technology" or "new energy" hub for
businesses providing solutions the whole world needs, thereby expanding
the city's tax base. Between SRI, the USGS, our proximity to Stanford
and pre-eminent venture firms, Menlo Park has a renowned history of
innovation and science to build on; 3) preparing to mitigate possible
consequences of climate change, such as sea level rise, which
potentially could inundate thousands of residents in the Belle Haven
neighborhood and affect our industrial district.

"I'm launching the Green Ribbon Citizens' Committee (GRCC) to research
and advise on these and other challenges and opportunities we face in
bringing the climate crisis under control. The GRCC will, at minimal
cost, provide an overview assessment of the broad range of available
options. I'm extending a public open invitation to everyone in Menlo
Park and the region who is interested in volunteering their talents and
passion. Everyone is welcome, and I hope a broad range of perspectives
will be represented."

"GRCC will bring me their recommendations later this year, and I'll
invite city council to a public study session for a presentation of the
committee's results, including a question and answer session. It is
time to lead by example, and Menlo Park has the ingenuity to lead on a
truly global scale," said Fergusson.

Councilmember Heyward Robinson (and SRI engineer), joined Mayor
Fergusson in submitting a "Dear Colleagues" letter to the Council in
January calling for City efforts to fight climate change. Councilmember
Robinson, who is helping convene the Green Ribbon Citizen's Committee,
called its work "an important first step that allows us, at minimal cost
to the City, to quickly assess the broad range of available options, as
was successfully done in Palo Alto."

Mayor Fergusson underscored "I am extending a public open invitation to
everyone in Menlo Park who is interested in volunteering. Whether you
are a resident, business owner, or an individual with relevant
expertise, I welcome your ideas and participation. Bring us your
talents and passion! This committee is open to all comers."

All future meetings will be publicly announced, and guidelines for
brainstorming between meetings, which will transpire on an email group,
will be discussed at the launch.

Craig Lewis, energy investor and Menlo Park leader of the Sierra Club's
Cool Cities initiative, said, "Climate change challenges are widely
recognized, and now we need to focus on solutions and recognize that
taking action will bring both environmental and economic benefits."

Menlo Park's Chamber of Commerce newsletter, The Acorn, has carried
articles on the importance of addressing climate change in its latest
two editions:
 <http://www.menloparkchamber.com/01_02-07%20newsletter.pdf>
http://www.menloparkchamber.com/01_02-07%20newsletter.pdf
For more information, contact Fran Dehn, at info@menloparkchamber.org

The work of the GRCC dovetails with the upcoming "GO GREEN" lecture
series and events, sponsored by Kepler's Books which kicks off on June
20 with a lecture by Paul Hawkins.
 <http://www.keplers.com/?sec=programs-events&subsec=upcoming-events>
http://www.keplers.com/?sec=programs-events&subsec=upcoming-events
For more information, contact anne@banta.org

For more information on Menlo Park's Green Ribbon Citizens' Committee
contact:
Kelly Fergusson, Mayor, (650) 327-4533 kjfergusson@menlopark.org
Heyward Robinson, Councilmember, hgrobinson@menlopark.org
Received on Sat Mar 10 10:41:09 2007